SpaceX Falcon 9 is Returning to the ISS this July

Every since NASA ended their shuttle program back in 2011, they have enlisted the help of private space organizations like SpaceX to resupply the International Space Station. SpaceX has completed many cargo resupply missions to the ISS already, and their next mission has a launch date. Elon Musk’s prized company will launch another one of their dragon spacecraft on Saturday, July 16, according to NASA. The Falcon 9 rocket won’t be making another historic landing on a drone ship, however, it will just be coming back to a landing pad near the launch site at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, according to Inverse.

Main portions of the cargo carried to the ISS will include docking adapters which will allow future spacecraft to deliver astronauts to the orbiting station. SpaceX also appears to be gaining some competition in the race to commercially viable space flight as Boeing announced plans to send their first manned mission into space by 2018.

Space is a booming industry, and much of the private sector is getting their hands on a portion of it. With manned missions to Mars coming in the near future as well as other missions to extend human’s reach, we are pushing the final frontier. SpaceX has been having great success with recent launches, and just a few months ago they successfully landed a Falcon 9 rocket on a floating drone ship in the middle of the ocean. When do you think humans will land on mars? Post your predictions below, then check back in a few years to see if you were right!